St. Matthew the Apostle (JMAS 08) Poster

Image Credit (JMAS 08): Antique image of St. Matthew the Apostle from a late 19th century devotional print in chromolithography with gilt accents originally published by Josef Müller, Art Publisher, Munich, Germany, from the designer’s private collection of religious ephemera. The image is one of twelve in the publisher’s Apostle Series (No. 12155). + The bag of coins on the lower right of the wreath surrounding St. Matthew’s portrait alludes to his former profession as tax collector which he abandoned to heed Jesus’s call to become an Apostle. Both cornucopia and brown rabbits are symbols of abundance and good fortune, especially in money matters. + St. Matthew is patron of all facets of money management. + Feast: September 21 + The lush floral ornamentation derives from miniatures, that is, the small illustrations used to decorate ancient or medieval illuminated manuscripts, in the Vatican Library.